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The Journal provides analysis of the bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez. Gordon Marino provides commentary from ringside at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while Jim Chairusmi and Devon Spurgeon offer analysis on the broadcast. Mayweather has a record of 44-0, 26 KO and Alvarez is 42-0-1, 30 KO.

Welcome to The Wall Street Journal live blog of Floyd Mayweather (44-0, 26 KO) vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO) in a junior middleweight title unification bout. I’ll be coming to you ringside from the MGM Grand.

The Sin City is crazy with excitement over this one. Yesterday there were 12, 200 people at the weighin and there would have been more if they hadn’t shut the doors. People were lined up for hours just to see these fighters step on the scale.

For all who imagine that boxing is dead — should think again — the almost 200-year sport is alive and well, thanks, in part, to great matchups like the one we have tonight.

With nearly 20 million dollars sold in tickets, this fight has already broken the record for a live gate. And there is good reason to hope that it will also bust the pay-per-view record set by Mayweather vs. De La Hoya back in 2007 – the magic number is 2.4 million buys.

Why is this fight so special? The public believes that “Canelo” (which means cinnamon in Spanish – for his red hair) has the power to turn out Floyd’s lights. Though he is about a 2.5 -1 underdog, the 23-year-old Mexican sensation has very good hand speed, a devastating right hand, and a crippling left hook to the body.

In addition to being 13 younger than his adversary, Canelo is the naturally bigger man at 5’9″ to Mayweather’s 5’8″ but Canelo also has a bigger frame. The Mexican walks around at at 160 — whereas Mayweather’s natural weight might be something like 150.

Even though the limit for this division is 154, the Mayweather team insisted that they fight at a catch weight of 152. This irritated the Canelo camp but their man came in on the button yesterday at 152.

Mayweither tipped the scale at 150.5. There was the usual stare down and antics — with Mayweather taunting but most of us onlookers think that the stone faced Canelo may have gotten the nod in the psychological weigh-in — but back to the fight

So Canelo has fast hands and big time pop. Compubox has him as the most accurate puncher in the business — but Canelo is quite hittable.

Theory has it that he needs to come out and hit Floyd everywhere he can — especially to work the body in the early rounds. But mind us all, Canelo only averages around 45 shots a round — compared to the average of 58 for his weight class — so if he is going to be aggressive he is going to need to pick up the punch pace — but without getting carless.

Floyd is the best defensive fighter of this era — and one of the best in history. He is a genius at anticipating punches and there is no one better at counter punching. So one of the questions is will, Canelo get nailed if Canelo opens up?

On the other hand, however, Floyd throws even fewer punchers per round than Canelo — he picks his shots- and as boxing guru Teddy Atlas has mentioned, the low punch rate could give Canelo opportunities to outwork Mayweather and steal rounds. In fact, Atlas is picking Canelo to surprise Mayweather.

I think that whatever Canelo does, he cannot be predictable.

Mayweather usually gives away the first two rounds — just measuring his opponent and figuring out his style. And then he has you.

Canelo has to move his head, and attack at angles. Mayweather is also very vulnerable to the left jab. Canelo has a quick and powerful jab — and he has to use it, use it without getting clocked by Mayweather right hand counter.

A big issue will be: Can Canelo cut the ring off on Mayweather.

Mayweather is so elusive. When his opponents are coming in – he slides two steps back and then pivots out and the next thing you know he has his guy on the ropes.

I predict that Mayweather is going to try to land something big in the first or second stanza — just to make Canelo think thrice about getting aggressive.

There is a huge emotional factor. Canelo is fighting for the pride of the Mexican people. He has their enormous love and support. Ricky Hatton had something like this but it ended up knocking him out of his game plan with Mayweather. But I think that Canelo is put together a little different psychologically. He will be energized by the support but he is too strong of mind to be pushed into getting reckless by it.

A lot of questions — enormous excitement but before the main event we have another bout that could have been pay-per-view in its own right

In the fight before the big one, undefeated Danny Garcia 26-0, 16 knockouts will defend his light welterweight title again Lucas Matthysee 34-2, 32, knockouts. Matthysee boasts the highest knockout percentage in boxing and has been putting opponents to sleep with both hands. He has amazing power. Garcia is a gutsy boxer puncher from Philadelphia — with recent wins Zab Judah, Erik Morales, and Amir Khan and Kendall Holt. Garcia can really fight and there are a lot of people saying that this matchup could be more exciting the main event.

As if that weren’t enough, in the run up to the run up – there is another championship fight — Ishe Smith will defend his light middleweight title against Carlos Molina.

Here’s an article Gordon wrote earlier this week on the unique style that Mayweather brings into the ring.

Last month, Manny Pacquiao visited the WSJ office. He joined the Sports Retort for a discussion on his Nov. 23 fight with Brandon Rios in Macau, and also discussed if he thinks he’ll ever get in the ring with Floyd Mayweather.

Molina is by far the busier fighter. Moving in and out. So far Smit’sh shots have been wide. I have him a good deal behind.

Talking to a lot of people today. Big issue with Canelo is that he has never fought anyone of Mayweather’s caliber — the only real boxer that he has faced was Austin Trout and while he won that one — he had his problems but then again Trout is a lefty.

Cesar Chavez Sr., the greatest in Mexican history, is ringside. I think he was 87 and 0 before he drew with Pernell Whitaker. He then suffered his first loss, to Frankie Randall in his 91st fight. Mayweather remembered seeing Chavez fight at the MGM Grand. One thing the two have in common is amazing balance.

Any moment know Lucas Matthysse and Danny Garcia will be squaring off. This is an amazing fight. Garcia is a remarkable boxer/puncher and Matthysses is one of the hardest hitters in the fight game today. He can put you to sleep with either a left or a right and he doesn’t even have to hit you squarely.

Garcia throws a big left hook. Matthysse is doing everything to try to land that right hand. Garcia is popping him with a jab. They just exchanged right hands. Garcia is doing a good job of tying him up, lands a combination. Matthysse lands a left hook to the body. Lands a combination, has Garcia in the corner. Garcia is hitting low a lot.

Mayweather was a little more aggressive in the last round, now Canelo is on the attack, jabbing the body a lot. Canelo misses with a right. exchanging jabs, Canelo lands a right to the body. Canelo lands another right to the body. Mayweather lands jab and they tie up.

Mayweather lands a couple of jabs. Canelo is in the corner looking to lands left hook. Mayweather lands two good rights, Canelo is talking to him. Mayweather is back against the ropes, dancing. You can see that Mayweather is fearful of Canelo’s power since he leans back everytime Canelo feints. Canelo lands jab, misses with right.

Mayweather lands a left hook. Canelo looking tired. Canelo warned for using his shoulder. exchanging right hands. Canelo misses with two big punches. Mayweather lands some right hands to the head. Canelo is not moving at all now, standing right in front of Mayweather. Mayweather teeing off with left right combinations. Mayweather lands another good right, another right. Canelo just can’t seem to find Mayweather, who’s an amazing defensive fighter.

Canelo gets hit with a huge right from Mayweather. Mayweather is just about Canelo at will right now.

Three jabs from Mayweather down the middle. Canelo is not moving his head or his legs. Mayweather lands good right to the body while Canelo misses with a right.

Mayweather lands a big right uppercut and another right hand, taking Canelo apart right now. Canelo on ropes looking for one good shot, his Mayweather with a right, Mayweather shakes it off and walks around.

Canelo is throwing but misses, Mayweather is boxing. Mayweather lands a jab. Lands a 1-2 combination to the head. Canelo lands a good left hook to the body and right to the head. Canelo trying to cut the ring off, lands jab, misses with right.. Mayweather lands big right to head, jab to head, Mayweather lands a 1-2 combination to Canelo.

Canelo throws a right but gets countered by Mayweather. Canelo is being aggressive but it’s not effective. Canelo on the ropes, jabbing.

Mayweather jabbing the body, lands a good right hand. Mayweather moving side to side, unpredictable as ever. Canelo had Mayweather on the ropes and fired a combination. Mayweather lands a jab. Lands another jab.

Canelo throws low right hand, Mayweather is talking to him. Canelo misses with huge right. Mayweather starts out slow in almost every round. Mayweather against the ropes, but covers up and lands a 1-2 combination. He’s giving Canelo a boxing clinic. Mayweather lands two right hands. Canelo misses with a wide right. Canelo going to the body, lands a left hook with Mayweather on the ropes. Mayweather is like a picador.

Moving side to side, looking fresh. Canelo misses with a wide right, Mayweather laughing, making Canelo look like an amateur.

Mayweather lands a jab, they tie up. Crowd chanting USA — Mayweather moving side to side. Another low blow from Canelo. Canelo’s mouth is open, he’s still trying, but having a hard time with Mayweather’s lateral movement. Canelo throws an uppercut.

Crowd is booing because Mayweather isn’t doing much — playing it safe. Mayweather lands a right. Canelo lands a jab. Canelo’s throwing a lot of punches but not connecting much. Mayweather misses with a right. Standing ovation for Mayweather at the bell.

Comments (5 of 288)

WWF.... Only morons believe this is real boxing.
De la Hoya fights were all fixed and now he promotes them.
You idiots give him your money.

1:17 am December 7, 2013

Anonymous wrote:

Fixed an choreographed fights.

7:54 pm September 23, 2013

Billy Maakasin wrote:

Floyd will never be beat, stop be jeolous of the best & greatest fighter ever. Boxing, hit and not be hit, defense, smarts, superior foot and hand speed his what got him where he is now. Floyd is simply the best

7:48 pm September 23, 2013

Billy Maakasin wrote:

One more thought! Money fought will a wounded elbow and a low blow to the left leg through the remainder of the fight, Canelo even tried to throw his left shoulder into Money. Ever have you seen a true prize fighter make such a easy statement. Floyd will never be beaten and he himself will know when to get out.

7:42 pm September 23, 2013

Billy Maakasin wrote:

Manny should have fought Money when he "was" in his better fighting years!

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